New Year’s Eve is approaching, and with it comes the usual resolutions to get fit. Promising yourself you’ll do it is one thing, but sticking with it into February (and beyond) is a whole different ballgame. Following are some tips from local experts, and a few places to find more help if you, too, have committed to better health in 2012. Make it a social event "Starting with a support team is important," says Kristen Dowd, an instructor and local franchise owner for Stroller Strides in Deerfield. She leads power walking and toning classes for stroller-pushing parents indoors through April …

Fruitcakes sound harmless enough — a cake filled with chopped nuts, fruits and spices, and sometimes alcohol — but holiday legend makes them out to be worse than liver and onions, root canals, or rain on your wedding day. Fortunately, there are plenty of fruitcake alternatives to choose from if you want to give food as a gift. For friends and colleagues, a package of sweets from a local bakery or some fragrant coffee beans are a great way to express your appreciation for a year's worth of good work, kindness and friendship. We've rounded up some local options if you're shopping for the …

Sure, 'tis the season for pumpkin pies and peppermint sticks, but for that very reason, November is a great month to think about healthy eating. The national Parent Teacher Association (PTA) has designated November as Healthy Lifestyles month. Knowing that a healthy child can achieve and learn more, local PTAs nationwide are encouraging families to increase their physical activity, eat fresh fruits and vegetables, develop community oriented physical activity programs and promote lifelong healthy behaviors. As for adults, we all know the holidays are coming. Minimize their effect on your …

The last census revealed that Americans spend more than 100 hours a year commuting - that's more than the average two weeks of paid vacation they earn! In fact, Illinois ranked among the states with the longest commute-to-work times, weighing in at 27 minutes on average. Before you sit down for the long haul, make your commute a little easier with a caffeinated drink and a bite to eat from one of these local coffee shops. Alchemy Coffee House, WilmetteJust a block from the Linden CTA Station, Alchemy roasts its own coffee beans and bakes its own scones. Stop by on your way out of town for a …

Whether you're planning a Halloween party, stringing fake cobwebs or filling up the candy bowl for yourself--and the kids--Halloween is always fun. Treat yourself, trick your friends, and raise your spirits with any of these Halloween supplies, all available locally. World Market, NorthbrookDoes your office have a candy bowl? Make takers look twice with some of the novelty candies available here. Look for body part sushi rolls, witches finger lollipops and BooDoo ghost poop-shaped gum drops. And for the cocktail party you're hosting after hours, consider a bottle of wine from the Velvet Devil…

From the time we're born, sweet is the first taste humans prefer. Sugar is a carbohydrate, and carbohydrates stimulate the brain's feel-good chemical, seratonin, the American Dietetic Association reports. Sure, carbohydrates come from fruits, vegetables and a warm piece of lightly buttered whole grain toast. But there are some days when only a chocolate chip cookie will satisfy your craving. Consider one of these sweet treats the next time your sweet tooth sings. Baker Boys Bakery, Highland ParkStop in the Ravinia business district for one of the cupcakes, some frozen custard or a cup of …

After a long hot summer, the crisp air of fall and the bright colors of the leaves are a refreshing change. Take this opportunity to get outside for a walk or a bike ride in one of the many beautiful places we've found to enjoy the foliage. Or let us know where you like best in the comments section below. Heller Nature Center, Highland ParkThis 97-acre property maintained by the park district offers three miles of marked trails for casual strolls to admire the scenery or serious nature hikes, as the land is maintained as a haven for native plants and animals. Here you'll find a forest, …

Rosh Hashanah, like many family holidays, is rich with traditions that link the celebration to its religious roots. Following are a few ways to honor those traditions and make your celebration of the Jewish New Year the sweetest of them all. Add your own traditions in the comments section below. Dinner treatsThe round challah at the dinner table symbolizes the circle of life. Pick a loaf that all your guests will enjoy, at Deerfield's Bakery, which offers plain, poppy-seed, raisin, sesame-seed and even a gluten-free round challah loaf. The bakery also offers decorated shofar cookies; the …

Sure, summer is fun, what with the pools, picnics and days in the yard. But fall has just as much to offer. Fewer bugs, trees turning color, cooler breezes and delicious treats are just a few reasons to celebrate the changing season. Following are a few events sure to keep your spirits high: Autumnfest, NorthbrookNeighbors of all ages can celebrate  Autumnfest  Saturday, Oct. 1, from 4-7 p.m. at Meadowhill Park. This is the third year that the Northbrook Park District will host the free community event, which includes live bands, a talent show, costume contest, pie-baking contest, craft show…

Though it was originally considered a street food, pizza has become a fine art form around here. We've gathered some of our favorites below. Add your favorites in the comments section, too. Barnaby's of NorthbrookThe 40-year-old local favorite boasts of a cornmeal crust that stays strong, even when toppped with loads of fresh ingredients. Start with an order of breaded mushrooms for a prefect Friday night. Foodstuffs, GlenviewAt the farmer's market Saturday mornings, in between the tomatoes and cucumbers, seek out Foodstuff's exceptional pizza rolls. For brown bag lunching all week long, you …

Running out of ideas for another beautiful summer day? Have no fear – there are lots of safe and fun activities to keep local families busy any day of the week. Game on When you get tired of beating Mom at Candyland, take your competitive spirit to the Northbrook Public Library. Board games galore hit the tables at the Northbrook Public Library two afternoons a week through July 20 at Game Day drop-ins. You might even discover a new favorite. Go Fish Families can get hooked on fishing at two locations in the Northbrook Park District. Residents can borrow rods and reels at no cost (thanks to …

Make your Father's Day celebration a necktie-free zone this year. Honor your favorite guy(s) with time to play at one of these hot spots. Canoe at the Chicago Botanic Garden See the garden from a different angle when you canoe the Chicago River on Father's Day. An aquatic biologist will cruise with you to explain what you’re seeing and what the Chicago Botanic Garden is doing to restore the area. Best of all: no canoe experience is necessary. Find more information and register in advance online. Car Show at the Glen Stroll Tower Drive through The Glen Town Center for a view of the cars you …

With spring come the bulldozers, earthmovers and dump trucks that signal the start of contruction season. Grab your GPS, your bike or a train schedule and find an alternate route while these five much needed (and much dreaded) projects are completed. Lake Cook Road Congestion will continue on the north side of town, as the Cook County Highway Department reconstructs this thoroughfare between Wilmot and Pfingsten roads. The road will eventually widen to six lanes in some areas, water mains will be relocated, and traffic signals will be modernized. With work planned through November (and …

Whether your picnic calls for 50 of your closest friends for pot-luck or simply your family armed with sack lunches, you'll find beautiful sites to waste away the day around town. Central Tot Lot, Glenview Located at Central Road and Lehigh Ave, chances are you passed this 1+ acre park on the way home from the train station or daycare during the cold winter months and longed for a sunny day and an hour to play with your family.  That time is now, and this quaint facility is perfect for young families: there is both a playground for young children and a basketball court to cultivate the next D…

Kids’ birthdays used to be so simple. Back in the day, it was enough to head to a McDonald's with an indoor play land and let one of the cashiers lead the kids in a game of 'See Who Can Stack Styrofoam Containers the Highest.' If the adults were sick of that, it was off to Chuck E. Cheese’s, where kids would deep-sea dive to the bottom of the ball pit in search of lost game tokens while the adults gorged on Diet Coke and cheap pizza. It's hard to argue with the classics, but luckily we have a few more options today. Our area has a number of great places and ways to celebrate a kid’s birthday…

April 22 is Earth Day - but it seems like every day is Earth Day in communities like ours. Consider these easy ways to make your life a little greener. Adopt a Beach If you were at Northbrook’s Earth Day celebration April 16, you probably met someone from the Alliance for the Great Lakes. Volunteers aim to protect our beloved Lake Michigan through policy, education and local efforts like beach clean-ups.  Formed in 1970, it’s the oldest independent citizens’ Great Lakes organization in North America. New Trier High School has eight teams that routinely visit local beaches. Learn more about …

Center Stage Certainly the star of many Passover tables, this brisket is as delicious as it is simple to make. I wish I could remember which food magazine instructed me to load my slow cooker in this order: 1 yellow onion, thinly sliced; 2 garlic cloves, smashed; 4 lb. brisket, trimmed; salt and pepper to taste; 2 C. low sodium chicken broth. Cover, and cook on high for 6 hours. Mine came out so tender, it broke in two while I was trying to pull it out of the pot. Find your brisket at one of our local butcher shops: Northbrook’s Elegance in Meat or Glenview’s Reagan Meats. Garnish If you want…

Nevermind what you can see out the window, because it’s time to start thinking about summer camp. Check out these local programs for children of every age and interest. North Suburban YMCA This full palate of summer programs in one- and two-week sessions makes you want to be a kid again – and you can, if you sign up for mommy and me camp with your toddler. For more independent campers, there are traditional camps, sports camps, dance, gymnastics, art, and cheerleading camps, and sessions where campers take a field trip every day. There’s also a CIT program for teens, before- and after-camp …

Looking to shop locally? There’s no reason to go elsewhere when Northbrook has so many unique boutiques. Here are just a few of the local gems that contribute to Northbrook’s diverse marketplace. Quintessence Fine Paper and GiftsOwners Carolyn Ammer and Pattie Vanasco spent many years with a major greeting card company before they opened their own card and gift shop in the Willow Festival shopping center—and it shows. Quintessence takes shoppers back in time to the neighborhood card stores our moms all took us to, with a little bit of everything in one place: greeting cards, custom …

The presidents we honor Feb. 21 may differ in their feelings about foreign affairs and domestic spending, but they would probably agree that a day spent with family is second to none.  This edition of Patch Picks offers a few ways to celebrate President’s Day locally Hit the Links Several presidents played golf, but President Eisenhower was the first to have a putting green installed at the White House. Celebrate his legacy with some early work on your swing. Willow Hill says the driving range will be open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday. (If the weather weren’t so good, we’d consider cross-country …